In light of my recent purchase of some airplane tickets to Tokyo next month, I headed over to Mitsuwa Marketplace for lunch. For anyone who has been here before, you know there are many options for a quick lunch. Udon, sushi, beef tongue (yes you read that right), curry and of course ramen. One of my favorite ramen places in Orange County, Santouka Ramen was my first choice for that day.

I really wanted to like this place. Very badly. Every time I visit The Mix, or OC Mix Mart, or SOCO, or whatever the hell that place is called, The Iron Press is always packed. So on one sunny Saturday, I was stoked when there were tons of seats for my friends and I to sit down and grab some lunch. I had been waiting months to have some chicken and waffles.

Old Town Orange may be one of the cutest places in OC. It also has some pretty tasty eats. One night when my parents were in town, we decided to stroll the circle. It was a nice evening and we weren’t too hungry. By the time we were thinking about dinner we were standing in front of The Filling Station.

No, I don’t mean that Red Windmill that Christina Aguilara sang about. I mean the new café that has taken the place of Pasqual’s. Very similar idea (walk up counter, order salads by the pound, baked goods) but with a larger selection of food, a bigger inside for seating, coffee and drinks and a beautiful outdoor patio.

I first attended this glorious restaurant in LA. It was new and all the rage when I was in high school. Unfortunately, that was quite a long time ago. Anyway, this place is still a fun spot – especially during happy hour. So when I was trying to think of a place to grab dinner at 8:00 on a Friday, I thought why the heck don’t I try this place out again?

Lemonade has recently appeared at Fashion Island’s “food court.” Started in Los Angeles, it is another one of those places that you order your pre-made food as you walk down the line to a counter at the end. (Think “glorified Souplantation”.) The great part is that the food is actually quite extraordinary: fresh ingredients in ways that other restaurants of this type are just not creating.

Deep in the heart of Westminster…not really just right off the freeway actually…there is a little shack full of surprises. I stumbled across this hole in the wall by accident really. I was looking for a sandwich shop near(ish) to Costco and yelp had a 4 star 500 something review recommendation: Banh Mi Che Cali.